Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa exalted the values of Buddhist teachings, asserting that Buddhism had never allowed Buddhists to become extremists.
Addressing devotees on Wednesday, Rajapaksa said that the Mahasangha 'should be more concerned and well-informed about a situation being plotted to rouse communal tensions and create a crisis situation among religions and sects of the same religion to breach the religious harmony in the country'.
A government website quoted him as saying:
Addressing devotees on Wednesday, Rajapaksa said that the Mahasangha 'should be more concerned and well-informed about a situation being plotted to rouse communal tensions and create a crisis situation among religions and sects of the same religion to breach the religious harmony in the country'.
A government website quoted him as saying:
'It is evident that certain NGOs are drafting agendas to dislodge the place given to Buddhism in the constitution. But the government will never allow these forces to achieve their sinister targets'
'The government has been the protector of Buddhism as per the provisions of the constitution. It should foster and nourish Buddhism and should give the foremost place to Buddhism'
'The ulterior motive of these conspirators is to create a conflict among religions and create divisions among the religious sects as in certain other countries where there are conflicts taking place on the basis of their religions and sects.'